By Jeneba A Conteh
On Monday, June 24, Alie Mohamed Conteh, a staff member of Qnet, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Court No.2 on Pademba Road, Freetown, to face six charges, including conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretenses, as per Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
The indictment details that between October 20th and 28th, 2023, at the Qnet office located at Cockril Junction off Wilkinson Road, Freetown, Conteh allegedly conspired with others to defraud multiple victims of significant sums of money.
The charges allege that Conteh and unknown accomplices defrauded Abdul Rahman Kargbo of ninety-one thousand Leones (NLe 91,000) by falsely promising to facilitate overseas travel to Canada for Kargbo and his wife, Mariatu Kanu, for job opportunities.
In a similar scheme, Conteh allegedly conspired with Abu Bakarr Bangura and others to defraud Mariatu Sesay of eighty-eight thousand Leones (NLe 88,000), claiming they would arrange travel to Canada for Sesay and her two relatives, Isatu Turay and Fatima Mohamed Bangura.
Additionally, Conteh is accused of obtaining ninety-eight thousand Leones (NLe 98,000) from Dauda Carlos Bangura by falsely promising to facilitate travel to Canada for Bangura and his two relatives, Osman Carlos Bangura and Mabinty Carlos Bangura.
Counts 4, 5, and 6 reiterate that Conteh fraudulently obtained NLe 91,000 from Abdul Rahman Kargbo, NLe 88,000 from Mariatu Sesay, and NLe 98,000 from Dauda Carlos Bangura under the pretense of facilitating overseas travel for them and their relatives.
Magistrate Bangura denied bail, and Conteh was remanded in custody, with the next hearing scheduled for July 2, 2024. ASP Babah Musa is prosecuting the case.
